Ballot update, Write-in candidates will appear on general election ballot

Alexis Barker

NLJ News Editor

The 2024 primary election for Weston County has been certified and the results are official, and the candidates have been identified who will be on the ballot in the November general election, according to Weston County Clerk Becky Hadlock. 

In addition to those who were victorious in their respective primary races, four additional candidates have qualified to appear on the ballot in the Newcastle City Council race through write-in candidacies, and school board candidates for both Weston County districts — No. 1 in Newcastle and No. 7 in Upton — have reserved their spots on the ballot by filing for election. 

Newcastle City Council

Four write-ins will be added to the Newcastle City Council race, Hadlock reported. These candidates each received at least three write-in votes during the primary election. 

The four candidates are Jeffrey Hall, Karl Lacey, Chris Kenney and Kevin Kringlie, Hadlock said. They will join incumbents Daren Downs and Tom Voss on the ballot.

With three council seats open, only six candidates can appear on the general election ballot in the nonpartisan race. 

“Kevin Kringlie and Garrett Liggett both received three (votes), however the canvassing board drew out of a hat which one would move forward on the ballot,” Hadlock said. 

The three seats up for grabs are currently held by Downs, Voss and Tyrel Owens. Owens did not run for council and instead advanced to the general election in the race for Newcastle mayor against incumbent Pam Gualtieri. 

School boards

Filing for the boards of trustees for both Weston County School District No. 1 (Newcastle) and Weston County School District No. 7 (Upton) closed on Aug. 26, and Hadlock reported that multiple candidates filed to run for trustee in each district. 

With five seats open in Newcastle’s school district races, voters will choose among six candidates. Those candidates are incumbents Dana Mann-Tavegia, Paul Bau, and Billy Fitzwater. They will be joined on the ballot by newcomers Steven Gale, Tyler Mills and Susan Pillen. 

Not running for reelection this year are Tina Chick and John Riesland. 

In Upton, both of the candidates who filed to run for seats this year are current board members. Curtis Rankin and Diana White filed to return to the seats they already hold, and those are only two seats open for election this year.